It’s hard to believe the 1 Million for Work Flexibility movement is not yet even a year old! Since our launch in October 2013, we’ve grown by leaps and bounds, and we now have more than 60 organizations on board to date as part of our coalition—and counting.
We know there is no one-size-fits-all for work flexibility, and our diverse group of supporters includes companies, nonprofits, thought leaders, academic institutions, and flex consultants who all represent various perspectives on the issue. Together, we are leading the charge to inspire more organizations to adopt work flexibility as part of their corporate culture.
Companies
Employers embrace flexibility not only because they know it’s good for their employees, but also because they know it’s good for their bottom line. Some of the companies supporting 1MFWF include:
- Appen (language technology solutions and consulting)
- Convergys (customer relationship management)
- Humana (health care)
- PGi (global provider of meeting and collaboration software)
- Sqwiggle (online workplace for distributed teams)
Nonprofits
Whether they are working to advance opportunities for women and families or promoting environmental responsibility, nonprofits across the country are advocates of work flexibility. Some of the nonprofits supporting 1MFWF include:
- Catalyst (expanding opportunities for women and business)
- Green Business Bureau (delivering green business tools and certification)
- MomsRising (bringing people together towards a more family-friendly America)
- ThirdPath Institute (assisting individuals, families, and organizations in finding new ways to merge work and life)
Thought Leaders
Many thought leaders are bringing their own experiences to the discussion of work/life, and sharing their perspectives and knowledge on the issue through writing and speaking. Some of the thought leaders supporting 1MFWF include:
- Katrina Alcorn, Working Moms Break (author of Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink)
- Scott Behson, Fathers, Work and Family (elevating the voices of fathers in the work/life discussion)
Academic Institutions
A number of academic institutions are focused on research on and advancement of work/life integration. Some of the groups supporting 1MFWF include:
- The Boston College Center for Work & Family (research on the integration of work and life; linking research with corporate practice)
- The Institute for Workplace Innovation, at the University of Kentucky (research and awareness on work environments that boost the bottom line, employee health, and work-life fit)
- The Wharton Work/Life Integration Project (research and education on best practices for integrating work and the rest of life)
Flex Advocates and Consultants
Implementing flexibility often requires strategic guidance from experts. Flex advocates and consultants help individuals and businesses navigate productive change. Some of the flex consulting groups supporting 1MFWF include:
- Flextime Global (consulting and training on implementing flexible workplace practices, strengthening virtual workplaces, and building high performing teams)
- Global Workplace Analytics (research and consulting on workplace flexibility, mobile work, and alternative workplace strategies)
- Life Meets Work (consulting on talent management solutions that improve employee performance and grow businesses)
- Rupert & Company (tools and consulting for organizations to maximize the business gains of many ways of working)
- Work+Life Fit (research and consulting for businesses and individuals on creating high performing, award winning flexible workplaces)
- Work Options (work options advisor and negotiation coach)
For a full list of our supporter organizations, visit our Who We Are page. And to learn more about our individual supporter groups—and how they are directly contributing to the 1 Million for Work Flexibility cause—check out our blog to read their guest contributions and keep an eye out for our upcoming “Spotlight On….” series over the coming weeks and months.
photo credit: thinkstockphotos.com
I think this is going to be an important year for significant positive movement around workplace flexibility. Thanks for helping bring attention to this critical issue. And we also look forward to supporting your efforts this year in a number of ways — whether it’s the 1,000 Man Flex initiative we are launching this October or our Thursdays with ThirdPath community webinars that will be focusing on “Flex across the life cycle.” Congratulations on your one year anniversary. Your making a BIG difference for men, women, children and progressive workplaces
Thanks so much Jessica! We’re very excited for ThirdPath’s upcoming initiatives and webinars and look forward to an exciting and productive year ahead in the world of flex!